MEXICO: Tijuana's loss a promotion preview?

Club Tijuana loses so rarely that every defeat is unexpected, except perhaps Saturday's at Irapuato.

The Strawberry Lashers (8-2-3), along with second-place Leon, have been the class of the second-tier Liga de Ascenso since the Clausura kicked off in January, and their 2-0 triumph over the Xolos -- on two Cuauhtemoc Blanco strikes -- kept them two points clear atop the standings, five ahead of third-place Atlante Neza and 10 above the playoff line.

Expect a rematch, possibly in the Clausura final and more likely in the promotion final. Tijuana, as winner of the (fall) Apertura title, is already in the final series and will play the Clausura winner for a spot in the Primera Division. Irapuato just missed out on an Apertura title-series showdown with the Xolos in December, losing to Veracruz in the semifinals after conceding twice in five minutes near the end of the second leg.

Saturday's victory was Irapuato's fourth in a row, fifth in six games and left it 6-1-1 in the last eight. Tijuana (5-2-5), which had San Diego's Joe Corona on one wing, had won its previous four and was unbeaten in 10, since a 1-0 surprise at Altamira in its Jan. 21 Clausura opener. The Xolos fell from third to sixth in the standings.

Tijuana's other loss since July? At Indios de Ciudad Juarez, 1-0, back on Nov. 6. The Xoloitzcuintles' overall record, playoff games included: 18-3-12.

MORE LIGA: Leon (7-1-4) kept pace with Irapuato, rallying to beat bottom-feeding Lobos BUAP, 3-2, on Alejandro Corona's 83rd-minute goal. Texan Marco Vidal was in midfield for the Esmeraldas, who have one game in hand. Irapuato's bye is next week. … 2007 Major League Soccer MVP Luciano Emilio scored the winner as Atlante Neza topped visiting Indios de Ciudad Juarez, 3-1, to vault from fifth to third. … Ismael Valadez scored both goals for Correcaminos (6-4-2), who climbed to fifth by beating Altamira, 2-1. It was just the second victory in seven games for UAT, which had lost three of its previous four.

THIS WEEK: The Primera Division, which took the week off for the FIFA fixture dates (Mexico beat Paraguay, 2-0, Saturday in Oakland, plays Venezuela on Tuesday in San Diego), resumes Friday with Guadalajara visiting Necaxa, a most crucial match for Chivas' playoff hopes.

The Goats (3-2-6) are ninth overall but seldom win (just seven since the full season kicked off in July, none back-to-back). Necaxa's surge ended a month ago, and three straight shutouts (the last two losses) have all but scuttled the Rayos' bid to avoid relegation.

The week's biggest showdown: Atlante (5-5-1), which reached the top spot in Group 2 (and sixth overall) with nine goals in successive wins over Pachuca and Jaguares, faces off Saturday at Group 1 leader UANL Tigres (5-1-5), who have conceded just five goals but scored just once, on a penalty kick, in their last three games.

Also of note: Toluca (4-4-3), just outside the playoff zone, is home Sunday against Monterrey (6-4-1), fifth overall. It's a meeting of the last three Primera champions -- Toluca won the Clausura last year; the Rayados have captured the past two Aperturas -- and the third showdown in six weeks. Monterrey won both CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal legs, 1-0 and 1-0.